New Yorker Aims at Thru-Hike

Andrea Boyarsky, a reporter for the Staten Island (NY) Advance, has an article in their 9 April 2007 issue titled "A hiker's hardest challenge yet; Westerleigh resident will trek through 2,174 miles of Appalachian Trail to raise money for military non-profit."

The article chronicles the beginning of a thru-hike attempt by Staten Island resident Peter Priolo. Starting on 15 April, Priolo will be raising money (his own, if nobody else's) for "Fisher House, a not-for-profit organization that allows family members of military personnel be close to their loved ones during hospitalization for illness, disease or injury." The obligatory web site has more details.

"'I'm scared to death,' Priolo admits of the challenge. 'I don't know what to expect; there are a lot of intangibles. But with a positive attitude, I can do anything.'"

I'm sorry, but "I don't know what to expect"??? Don't you have access to any of the printed or online narratives written by people who have hiked before you?

Then there's the reporter's comment:

"Priolo will be hiking the trail alone, but believes he will meet other travelers along the way. He will be stopping at shelters, where hikers tend to congregate and discuss their journey."

Makes it sound like, well, he just might not meet other hikers while he's out there. No, wait, this is a Staten Island reporter. Never mind.